Engineering Technology

What You'll Do in an Engineering Technology Career

Engineering technology involves the hands-on application of technical expertise to engineering tasks in a wide range of industries. From building our nation's infrastructure to making our transportation and energy systems more efficient, wherever scientists and engineers are found, so are engineering technicians and technologists. Engineering techs may assist with setting up equipment, conducting experiments, and collecting data, or they may be involved in the design and development end of the process, using computer-aided design and drafting (CADD) equipment or constructing prototypes.

A career in the technology of engineering is more narrowly focused than the career of a regular engineer, focusing on applied rather than theoretical knowledge. Most people who work in the field specialize in a particular area, such as aerospace engineering technology,  environmental engineering technology or manufacturing engineering technology, to name just a few.

 

Engineering Technology Job Opportunities

Working in the field of engineering technology most likely means spending a lot of time in a lab, at a construction site, or in a manufacturing or industrial plant. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2008, about 34 percent of engineering technicians worked in manufacturing, while 25 percent worked in professional, scientific, and technical service industries. Many engineering techs work for federal, state or local government, while others work for engineering or business service companies. Depending on your area of specialization, you might find job opportunities anywhere from microelectronics to biotechnology to industrial manufacturing.

 

The Future of Engineering Technology

Because of the continuing need for skilled workers on-site at infrastructure improvement projects such as transportation, pollution control systems, and building and road repair, civil engineering technology is expected to be a rapidly-growing field in the decade to come. Environmental engineering technology is one of the most exciting areas in terms of expansion, with a 30 percent employment growth rate expected over the 2008 – 2018 period. Environmental engineering techs help companies and governments comply with environmental regulations and implement new, cleaner technologies. Some job growth is also expected in the area of industrial engineering technology, where skilled workers are needed to analyze performance, reduce costs and improve productivity.

 

Engineering Technology Degree Programs

Associate's Degree in Engineering Technology: A 2-year associate's degree is the minimum education needed to start a career as an engineering technician. Often, a 2-year program involves training within one of the many engineering technology specialties. Technical institutes, community colleges, university extension programs, vocational schools and the Armed Forces offer associate's degree programs.

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering Technology: A 4-year degree specializing in the technology of engineering usually prepares you to become an engineering technologist or even an applied engineer, rather than a technician. If you already hold a 2-year degree in engineering technology, you may be able to transfer some or all of your credits to a 4-year degree program.

Master's and Doctoral Degrees in Engineering Technology: Higher-level jobs may be available to those who complete a master's degree, such as a Master of Science in Engineering Technology (MSET). An advanced degree will teach you a more sophisticated skill set and prepare you for supervisory roles. Doctorates in engineering technology itself are rare, but some engineering techs choose to pursue a PhD in  management or in a specific engineering discipline.

Online Engineering Technology Degrees: An online degree program may be the most flexible option for those who need to work or raise a family while they attend school. Some institutions offer online bachelor's degree programs in engineering technology specialties such as electronics engineering technology. There are even a few online master's degrees available in related areas, such as engineering management.

 

Engineering Tech Salary

Salaries in the field of engineering technology vary widely depending on specialty. In the growing field of environmental engineering technology, the median salary was $41,100, although those working in high-demand fields such as natural gas and electric power transmission generally earned above $60,000 on average. For industrial engineering technology, the top-paying industry was business support services, with an average annual salary of $84,880